LATE GOAL RESULTS IN EARLY EXIT FOR HOLDERS

Holders Glenafton were knocked out of the Scottish Junior Cup by fellow Premier Division side Kirkintilloch Rob Roy after Kevin Watt scored with only 3 minutes remaining of the 3rd round tie.

After two previous postponements the 3rd round tie was moved to the plastic pitch at Petershill Park a decision vindicated after much of the Junior card was again wiped out due to frozen pitches.

Glens kicked off as the low December sun cast elongated sharp shadows over the spruce green Petershill pitch. The Rabs were first to threaten in 2 minutes after Joe Slattery’s efforts down the right-wing earned the ‘home’ side a corner kick. Although Daniel Boyle won a free-header from close range the ball flew straight into the welcoming hands of keeper Brian McGarrity.

Two minutes later the ‘visitors’ made equal good use of their right flank through Ryan Borris determined run to the goal-line and although his cut-back for the inrushing Joe Andrew was cut out by Boyle’s outstretched leg the ball spun up into air for Andrew to head for goal only for the ball to sneak inches wide of the post.

Joe’s header drifts wide

Back came the Rabs and a free-kick into the box was headed across the face of goal by Boyle for Willie Sawyers to lay-off to Gary McMenamin but his close range shot at goal was blocked by Alan Cairns and the loose ball cleared by Mick McCann. Soon after McCann was on hand again to head clear a free-kick whipped into the goalmouth from the right-hand side of the box.

Glenafton then enjoyed a good spell of pressure with the combination of Kyle McAusland and Borris down the right flank becoming a feature of the play. However, on 10 minutes, it was from a throw-in on the left that ended with the Glens finding the net after Andrew held up the ball before stroking a pass into the box for McCann to chase down and slip the ball past keeper Stephen McNeil; the offside flag curtailing early Christmas celebrations.

Two minutes later Borris’s cross from the right was headed on by Boyle before the ball dropped for Dale Moore at the back and his volley across the box was deflected wide for a corner-kick which was headed clear by Gary McCulloch.

Mick McCann holds off Gary McMenamin

Glens continued to press and on 15 minutes McCann broke through the middle holding off the challenge of McMenamin before the Rabs captain pulled him back on the outskirts of the box and although Jamie McKernon’s free kick beat the wall the ball sailed over the bar. Two minutes later McMenamin’s game was over after falling awkwardly in a 50-50 challenge with McCann of the right touch-line and was replaced by Daniel O’Halloran.

On 17 minutes Alan Cairns switched the play to right where Borris’s headed knock on saw Andrew get the jump on the Rabs’ defence and charge into the box before cracking a powerful angle shot that was blocked well by the keeper who had advanced to the corner of the six-yard box.

Some respite for the Rabs through a strong run down the left by Kevin Watt however having breached the Glens box he was undone by a fine tackle from Glens captain Craig Menzies. McAusland’s pressure forced McCulloch into a slack pass that was snapped up by Moore and after a few strides hit a low shot from outside the box that McNeil got down low to hold comfortably.

Dale Moore and Danny Boyle

A scramble in the Glens box ended with Cairns and McGarrity combining at the post to extinguish the exuberant endeavours of Shaun Fraser. Soon after, a slick one-two between Sawyers and Gavin Mackie set up shot for the striker in the box only for Cairns to slide in with a perfectly timed tackle to clear the danger. The tireless Borris equalled that as stole the ball from the feet of Fraser as he mincingly advanced to the Glens box.

Jamie McKernon breaks down Rabs attack with Ally Park and Craig Menzies in support

Rabs pressure as the half drew to a close resulted in Ryan McChesney, Menzies and Ally Park all being booked within a five-minute spell of each other. Only one of the free-kicks came to anything after Fraser’s free-kick deflected off the wall for a corner-kick which was over hit and marshalled clear by McAusland at the back post. It was the energetic Glenafton full back that conjured the final chance of the half with a shot from outside the box that was well held by McNeil.

HT Rob Roy 0 Glens 0

Straight from kick-off McChesney mopped up a Rabs’ attack before Glens replied through a blistering break down the left by Moore that took him into the box where his low angled drive was blocked by the legs of the outrushing keeper. Play continued to ebb and flow from end-to-end which occasionally produced a half-chance. Slattery fired wide of target from outside the box at one end and O’Neill pulled off a fine save from Park at the other; although another tight offside decision would have denied the Glens midfielder the opener in any case. In between times McCulloch was booked for shoving Andrew off the ball at the edge of the box, however the Glens set piece yet again failed to test the keeper.

Kyle McAusland and Ryan Borris

Although McAusland and Borris continued to combine well and make good progress down the right flank but unpicking the Rabs’ defence to fashion a shot at goal was proving a tougher nut to crack. Back up the park and Watt forged his way to the right corner-flag before rolling the ball back for Slattery at the corner of the box and although his attempt to pick out Sawyers in the middle of the box was cut out by Cairns the loose ball was snapped up by McCulloch and his low drive whizzed wide of McGarrity’s far post. McAusland tried his luck with a shot from 22 yards out that O’Neill gladly welcomed into his clutches.

Ally Park and Danny Boyle

Three substitutions in a ten-minute spell saw the Rabs replace Gavin Mackie with Andrew Johnston either side of the Glens bringing on Conor Lynass for Dale Moore and Joe Andrew making way for Chris Dallas. The game remained goal-less with twenty minutes to go.

With his way into the left-hand side of the box Slattery squared the ball to McCulloch to fire a shot from 25 yards that was blocked by Park and the loose ball fell for Sawyers who was quickly robbed by McChesney and the danger cleared.

On 73 minutes Watt collected a knock down from Sawyers in the box and with McAusland for company turned a flashed a shot that flew wide of target. Three minutes later Cairns flashed a long- range shot inches wide of McNeil’s post. Borris, wide on the right then, whipped a super cross high into the box where McNeil leapt to claw the ball from the head of Dallas before dropping like a stone to smother it before Lynass could pounce.

Chris Dallas

With 10 minutes to go Slattery earned the Rabs a corner kick which was won at the back post by Boyle but his header disappeared into the glare of the of the floodlights.

Both sides then made their final substitutions with Ryan Borris coming off for Darren McGill and Rabs replacing Willie Sawyers with replaced by Garry Carroll.

Kevin Watt (No 10) scores the winner,

With 2 minutes to go the fresh legs of Carroll broke down the left before picking out Fraser and from the corner of the six-yard box the midfielder lashed a powerful shot that brilliantly parried by an equally powerful hand of McGarrity only for the ball to fall kindly for the incoming Kevin Watt to lash the ball into the roof of the net.

Glens tried in vain to fashion a final chance but McNeil kept his cool to cleanly clutch a cross under his bar. Rabs didn’t rest on their laurels and earned another corner-kick before the sun set on Glenafton’s hold on the Scottish Junior Cup.